Alexander Blessin: Latest on Sheffield United's manager search as reports suggest target is leaving current club "imminently"

Blessin, a former youth coach at RB Leipzig in his native Germany, emerged as a leading candidate for the vacancy created by Chris Wilder’s departure from Bramall Lane last month after transforming Oostende from relegation candidates in the Belgian Pro League.

Despite losing 2-0 at home to bottom club Waasland-Beveren, and finishing the game with nine men after Frederik Jakel and Makhtar Gueye were both sent off, Blessin has led Oostende to fifth in the Belgian league – level on points with Anderlecht and within touching distance of clubs such as Genk and Royal Antwerp in the Juliper League standings.

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Last season, Oostende were second bottom of the table when the league was suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic and Blessin’s work, with primarily young players and on a budget lower than that of Oostende’s rivals, has caught the eye of United’s hierarchy.

Reports in Belgium suggest that Oostende are readying themselves to lose Blessin soon and United may be persuaded to offer the former striker the United role before the summer, if talks progress as they expect, amid interest in Blessin from other clubs.

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Slavisa Jokanovic, the former Fulham and Watford boss, would also be interested in discussing the Bramall Lane role, but has yet to be approached.

Prince Abdullah’s United World empire owns a club in the Belgian League, Beerschot, while his de-facto director of football Jan van Winckel is on the Beerschot board.

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